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Topic: *SOB (Read 3446 times)

Well when I went out side to feed the food to my bees i found very few live ones and they looked like they were on their way out.....sigh* its so discouraging. Does anybody have any ideas why this could be? There is honey all around them even under them and there was sugar water and the hive was wrapped. THe funny thing is that two weeks ago there was a huge cluster, now its like non-existant.

Could be trachea mites? I have heard of them doing that for that reason. Or since we both live in the same state when we had that warm day last week, sunday I think, they could have swarmed without you noticing, bye :?

It is hard to give a diagnosis with the limited details provided. Are there any signs of dark brown fecal stains in & outside the hive? Are there a lot of dead bees in the hive, or did they just disappear (left the hive to die)? Did you treat for tracheal mites in the fall? Check the bottom board for dead varroa mites.

Logged

"Opportunity is missed by most people because it comes dressed in overalls and looks like work." - Thomas Edison

Now that I read robos response I see he is right, many diff things may have cuased this. But if there is no dark brown spots and such I would say the mites got them or they swarmed, prob swarm. You did say that not many where in the hive right? bye

idk, all i know is it is cold here and there is still snow on the ground (New York). personally i don't think that any bee's are swarming in this particular area at the current time. tonight it is snowing and there is about 3 inches on the ground already and there will be another 2 - 3 more. later